DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Moro lawmakers on Wednesday condemned as “barbaric” and “un-Islamic” the Abu Sayyaf Group’s beheading of 70-year old German national Jurgen Kantner.
“This act of terrorism is not in accordance with the Islamic religion or way of life to which we as representatives of our people, here in the Philippines, belong. We are making this statement, lest the rest of the country and the world would perceive our people to consent to, or to encourage, or to support such brutal, barbaric acts done not only to a foreigner, but to any innocent person,” said Maguindanao 1st District Rep. Bai Sandra Sema.
Sema called on the public to “spare” the Moro people from “unfair generalizations” and “unfounded discrimination.”
Anak Mindanao Partylist Rep. Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman called on a review of the approach used in dealing with the ASG.
“I think there is a need for us to constantly review the approach of the government, particularly the security sector. Baka kailangang baguhin natin. Mukhang merong mga approaches, strategies na hindi effective. Kailangan bang pag-aralan. Sa amin sana ay mas ma engage ang local leaders (Maybe we have to change some things. It looks like there are approaches and strategies that are not effective that have to be studies. For our part, we think we need to engage local leaders more),” Hataman said.
Hataman also dismissed the notions that the ASG enjoys the support of Muslims, pointing out that they were also victims of the ASG.
“Kami pong mga Muslims ay victims din ng Abu Sayyaf. This is something that we want to correct also, yung notion na they are just against non-Muslims” (We Muslims are also victims of the Abu Sayyaf. We also want to correct the notion that [the ASG] are just against non-Muslims), Hataman said.
“Itong terrorism ay hindi pumipili ng religion, pati rin kapwa nilang Tausug, kapwa nilang Yakan, kung tingin nilang pagkakakitaan” (Terrorism does not discriminate between religions. [They also target] their fellow Tausugs, Yakans, if they see an opportunity to get money), Hataman said.
Tawi-Tawi Rep. Ruby Sahali called on the local government units and communities to do their part in addressing the threat posed by the ASG.
“It’s not just the work of the military for peacekeeping, it’s also the work of LGUs come hand in hand with all of the community na nagbabantay po talaga sa areas nila of possible attacks, possible activities of ASG (It’s not just the work of the military for peacekeeping, it’s also the work of LGUs come hand in hand with all of the community guarding their areas for possible attacks and activities by the ASG),” Sahali said.
A video of Kantner beheaded by masked men believed to be members of the ASG surfaced on Monday, Feb. 27 through SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors terrorist groups.
The beheading came after the deadline of ransom lapsed on Sunday, 3 pm. The Philippines has a standing no ransom policy.
President Rodrigo Duterte has already apologized to Germany, maintaining that the government exhausted all efforts to save Kantner.
“I am very sorry that the hostage, a national of your country has been beheaded. I sympathize with the family, I commiserate with the German people. But I said we tried, there’s a massive operation going on,” Duterte said. (davaotoday.com)
